People in new york city

The number of elderly homeless people in New York City shelters has shot up 55% in the last 10 years, a hidden and growing population among the city’s most vulnerable adults. A Daily News review of homeless statistics found that as of December, there were 2,234 single adults over 55 in the shelter system, compared to 1,437 in 2002. In the last two years alone, there was a 28% jump. Nearly 500 of today’s residents are over 65, coping with the premature ravages of aging along with no permanent roof overhead. Those who work with the homeless say it is a troubling trend exacerbated by economic hard times. Nearly one-third of homeless adults in the U.S. today are over 50, compared to 11% in the 1990s, according to national studies. READ MORE HERE: SHELTER RESIDENTS' STORIES OF STRUGGLE AND SURVIVAL Karen Jorgensen, who has run the only shelter in the city for older New Yorkers since 1988, said today’s elderly homeless are different than what the city … [Read more...] about Elderly homeless rates jump in New York City; more than 2,200 of today’s residents are over 55

A powerful blast from an explosive device injured at least 29 people in New York City's popular Chelsea neighborhood on Saturday night.The explosion came just after 8:30 p.m. ET at 133 W. 23rd St., between Sixth and Seventh Avenue in a neighborhood known for its vibrant nightlife. City officials said police located the explosive device in the street next to a trash bin. The explosion was so powerful it blew out the windows in a nearby building. The city's fire department said none of the victims had life-threatening injuries, but witnesses reported seeing victims cut by shrapnel, metal fragments and glass. All those injured were released from area hospitals by Sunday morning, according to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office.A second device believed to be a pressure cooker was found on West 27th Street, four blocks from the initial blast on West 23rd. The New York Police Department said it was safely removed by the bomb squad early Sunday.The … [Read more...] about Explosion in New York City: What we know now

He has traveled the world with his MetroCard. For the past three years, photographer Danny Goldfield has been on a mission to photograph a child from every country around the globe. His rules are simple: They must be under 12 and live in New York City. The project has taken him across all five boroughs, from a dentist convention to playgrounds, parks and along nearly every stretch of subway track. With just 39 countries to go, from a total of 196, the end is clearly in sight - but stubbornly elusive. "I didn't know it would take me this long," said Goldfield, 41, who finds his subjects through community groups, immigrant services and places of worship. "It gets harder because in the beginning a lot of the countries had sizable communities in New York, but if you look at the countries left now, the populations are very small." Goldfield, who lives in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, was inspired to create the NYChildren project after meeting a Sikh man in Arizona whose brother was … [Read more...] about Photographer on a quest to find a kid from every nation in New York City

Ferrets will remain furry outlaws in New York City after the city Board of Health voted down a plan to legalize the pets Tuesday. Board members were unconvinced by arguments that New Yorkers have nothing to fear from the 2-pound creatures, which are legal in 48 states. They raised an array of worries — infants injured by ferret bites, the prospect of feral colonies springing up in abandoned buildings, and a “unique skeletal structure” that could let the weasle-like animals slither between people’s apartments — before a vote where they failed to give the proposal the required majority. Three members voted to legalize ferrets, two voted against it, and five abstained. “I'm greatly troubled by this. I have to say that, at this point, I'm not at all convinced that it wouldn't be a substantial health risk to allow ferret ownership in New York City,” said Dr. Lynne Richardson. Health Department staff urged the board to consider the … [Read more...] about Effort to legalize ferrets in New York City voted down

Brace yourself: There’s some positive economic news in New York City. After years of flat or falling pay, wages have been going up. Average hourly earnings rose 2.7% in the six months leading up to February when compared with the same period a year earlier, according to an analysis of federal data by the Fiscal Policy Institute. In the first two months of this year, the trend accelerated. Average hourly private-sector wages grew by 4.4% — more than twice the national rate, the best boost since the end of the Great Recession and a marked improvement over an annual average decline of 0.4% from 2009 to 2013. Why? While the forces driving economic trends are tough to pin down, a number of factors seem to be in play. Outpacing the country, New York City has added 500,000 jobs since the economic collapse, and recent growth has included a higher proportion of middle- and high-wage positions. At the same time, Mayor de Blasio settled contracts for roughly 300,000 city workers … [Read more...] about Maybe, finally, a raise: Promising evidence of wage increases in New York City

Messenger's payment feature is finally rolling out in New York City and surrounding metro areas. Facebook announced Wednesday that Messenger's new feature, which allows people to send and receive money on Android, iOS and desktop, is expanding in the Big Apple as it continues to roll out across the U.S. "Our plan is to continue a phased roll-out, to ensure we continue to provide a highly useful, high-quality experience," a Facebook spokesman told the Daily News. "As we continue to expand availability, our expectation is that growth will continue to happen organically as people send money to more friends. We will consider adding international markets after we have launched nationwide in the U.S." Facebook first announced the payment feature in March, but only released it to a few selected users. To send money, Facebook users would have to start a conversation with a friend on Messenger and tap on the '$' icon to send a payment. Users would be required to add a Visa or … [Read more...] about Facebook Messenger’s payment feature is rolling out in New York City

The Parisian Muslim who helped save a group of Jewish hostages during the January terror attack in his adopted city is getting a hero’s welcome in New York City. The NYPD Muslim Officers Society flew Lassana Bathily to New York to be honored at their Annual Scholarship Dinner, and Mayor de Blasio on Friday presented him with an official city proclamation honoring his bravery in the Hyper Cacher attack in Paris. De Blasio — who met with Bathily at the Islamic Center of Brighton Beach — called him a “ real hero” who “stood up to protect human life even when his own life is in danger.” “We are so blessed to have you with us,” he said. Bathily, who moved to France in 2006 from Mali, was working as a supermarket clerk when terrorists attacked his store. He hid the frightened customers in a basement freezer, and after he escaped gave cops — who initially mistook him for a terrorist — details that helped … [Read more...] about Parisian Muslim who helped save Jewish hostages during terror attack being honored in New York City

This victory is sweet — and surprising — for 13-year-old Najah Lorde of Queens, who sold more boxes of cookies than any other other Girl Scout in New York City. She grabbed the top spot for the second year in a row, even though sales were down this year. Lorde sold 2,833 boxes in 2014. This year, she sold 1,816. Hardly a slacker, Lorde said she has a good excuse for being distracted from her cookie sale duties. “I was so busy with interviews and applications,” said Lorde, an eighth-grader at Divine Wisdom Catholic Academy in Douglaston, who is trying to figure out where to go to high school. “I was really shocked when I found out, because I didn’t have as much time to sell cookies.” The runnerup was Danielle Bioh, a 10-year-old from Brooklyn who sold 1,782. Last year, she sold just 70 boxes of the popular Trefoils, Thin Mints and other scrumptious cookies. “I went personally to my neighbors and people I saw every day at my … [Read more...] about Queens girl, 13, rakes in a lot of dough for her troop as top Girl Scout cookie seller in New York City

Kanye West wasn't just the headliner as he rocked the Time 100 Gala in New York City onTuesday night — the hip hop artist was the magazine's cover boy, too. Time named West and wife Kim Kardashian to its 2015 list of the most influential people in the world, joining the likes of Apple CEO Tim Cook, German Prime Minister Angela Merkel and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. West enthralled the Lincoln Center crowd with a 20-minute performance, but it was his entrance that created a stir on social media. Kimye was not amused as comedian Amy Schumer collapsed face first in a pratfall on the red carpet in front of the power couple. "I saw them and said to my publicist, 'Can I pretend to fall?' and she said, 'I can't stop you," Schumer told Time. Schumer wasn't the only one bowing to Kimye. Homemaker mogul Martha Stewart penned the Time tribute to Kardashian. She said West once stopped in to see how Stewart ran her … [Read more...] about SEE IT: Amy Schumer faceplants in front of Kanye West, Kim Kardashian at Time 100 Gala in New York City

Hiss off. Dozens of "No Catcall Zone" signs have been popping up in New York City to keep unwanted jeers at bay during International Anti-Street Harassment Week. Feminist Apparel, a nonprofit feminist clothing company, has claimed credit for the more than 50 street signs that have been spotted in Manhattan and Brooklyn this week. "We hope to get at least one sign up in each borough by the end of the week as street harassment and catcalling is obviously a universal issue not contained to any one neighborhood," the group said in a statement. The campaign is part of a collaboration with Philadelphia's guerrilla feminist collective Pussy Division. Feminist Apparel plans to "sneak up" a few more signs throughout the week, as well as sticker forms of the designs. The signs have appeared near the Williamsburg Bridge, Chinatown and other parts of the two boroughs. They were funded through sales of T-shirts on the clothing company's website. … [Read more...] about ‘No Catcall Zones’ signs pop up in New York City during Anti-Street Harassment Week